Fan module and electric blower having the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a fan module including an impeller cover having an intake member formed therein and covering one side of a housing, an impeller accommodated within the impeller cover and rotatably coupled to a rotational shaft of a motor accommodated in the housing, and a leakage reduction member positioned in an inner surface of the impeller cover to reduce a flow leakage between the impeller cover and the impeller.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0062920, filed on May 31, 2013, entitled “Fan Module and Electric Blower Having The Same”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fan module and an electric blower having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a case in which a fan having a high degree of suction force is required to be used in an electric blower such as a vacuum cleaner, a centrifugal fan is commonly used.

A shroud-integrated 2D impeller has been commonly employed in centrifugal fans, and recently, an unshrouded-type 3D impeller has also been applied.

In particular, in the case of a 3D impeller, flow leakage loss is made between a cover and the 3D impeller, reducing efficiency, and a formation of a turbulence flow generates noise.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT

-   (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent No. 0741787

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a fan module capable of reducing flow leakage loss generated between an impeller and a cover, and an electric blower having the same.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fan module including: an impeller cover having an intake member formed therein and covering one side of a housing; an impeller accommodated within the impeller cover and rotatably coupled to a rotational shaft of a motor accommodated in the housing; and a leakage reduction member positioned in an inner surface of the impeller cover to reduce a flow leakage between the impeller cover and the impeller.

The leakage reduction member may be made of a material having strength lower than that of the impeller.

The leakage reduction member may be made of one or more of plaster, carbon powder, and plastic.

The impeller cover may have an installation recess allowing the leakage reduction member to be installed therein, and the leakage reduction member may be installed in the installation recess.

The installation recess and the leakage reduction member may be formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.

The impeller cover may have a coupling hole formed in an inner surface of the installation recess, and the leakage reduction member may have a coupling projection coupled to the coupling hole.

The coupling projection may be provided as a pair, and the pair of coupling projections may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

The pair of coupling projections may be formed to become distant from each other toward an end portion thereof.

The pair of coupling projections may have protrusions formed in end portions thereof, respectively, and protruded in a direction in which they become distant from each other.

The fan module may further include: a diffuser disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller to guide air discharged from the impeller to a flow path.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electric blower including: a housing having one side opened and having an accommodation portion formed therein; a motor accommodated in the housing; an impeller rotated by the motor; a diffuser disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller to guide air discharged from the impeller to a flow path; an impeller cover accommodating the impeller therein, having an intake member, and covering one side of the housing; and a leakage reduction member positioned in an inner surface of the impeller cover to reduce flow leakage between the impeller cover and the impeller.

The leakage reduction member may be made of a material having strength lower than that of the impeller.

The leakage reduction member may be made of one or more of plaster, carbon powder, and plastic.

The impeller cover may have an installation recess allowing the leakage reduction member to be installed therein, and the leakage reduction member may be installed in the installation recess.

The installation recess and the leakage reduction member may be formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.

The impeller cover may have a coupling hole formed in an inner surface of the installation recess, and the leakage reduction member may have a coupling projection coupled to the coupling hole.

The coupling projection may be provided as a pair, and the pair of coupling projections may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

The pair of coupling projections may be formed to become distant from each other toward an end portion thereof.

The pair of coupling projections may have protrusions formed in end portions thereof, respectively, and protruded in a direction in which they become distant from each other.

The fan module may further include: a diffuser disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller to guide air discharged from the impeller to a flow path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an impeller cover of the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a leakage reduction member of the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an impeller of the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an electric blower having a fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted. Further, in the following description, the terms “first”, “second”, “one side”, “the other side”, and the like, are used to differentiate a certain component from other components, but the configuration of such components should not be construed to be limited by the terms. Further, in the description of the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related art would obscure the gist of the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an impeller cover 150, an impeller 130, and a leakage reduction member 160.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an impeller cover of the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a leakage reduction member of the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an impeller of the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the impeller cover 150 includes an intake member 153 to cover one side of a housing 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, the impeller 130 is rotated by a motor 120 accommodated within the impeller cover 150 in the housing 110. Here, the impeller 130 includes a plurality of impeller blades 131 formed in an outer surface thereof. Here, the impeller blades 131 may be formed to have a spiral form toward one side, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Also, the impeller 130 may be configured as a 3D impeller having a width narrowed toward one side thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the leakage reduction member 160 may be positioned at an inner side of the impeller cover 150 to reduce flow leakage loss generated due to a gap between the impeller cover 150 and the impeller 130.

Also, the leakage reduction member 160 is made of a material having strength lower than that of the impeller 130. For example, the leakage reduction member 160 may be made of one or more of plaster, carbon powder, and plastic. Here, the leakage reduction member 160 may be installed to be in contact with the impeller 130 and only a portion of the leakage reduction member 160 which comes into contact with the blade of the impeller 131 when the impeller 130 is rotated may be removed. Accordingly, a flow leakage loss generated due to a gap between the impeller cover 150 and the impeller 130 can be significantly reduced.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the impeller cover 150 includes an installation recess 151 in which the leakage reduction member 160 is installed. The leakage reduction member 160 may be insertedly installed in the installation recess 151. Here, the installation recess 151 and the leakage reduction member 160 may be formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.

Also, the impeller cover 150 may have a coupling hole 152 formed in an inner surface of the installation recess 151 and penetrating through the impeller cover 150, and the leakage reduction member 160 may have coupling projections 161 and 162 coupled to the coupling hole 152.

Here, the coupling projections 161 and 162 are provided as a pair and formed to be spaced apart from each other. In this case, the pair of coupling projections 161 and 162 may be formed to become distant from each other toward an end portion thereof.

In addition, the pair of coupling projections 161 and 162 have protrusions 161 a and 162 a protruded in a direction in which they become distant from each other, respectively.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 1, a diffuser 140 is disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller 130 to guide air discharged from the impeller 130 to a flow path.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an electric blower having a fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, an electric blower 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the housing 110, the motor 120, the impeller 130, the diffuser 140, the impeller cover 150, and the leakage reduction member 160.

Here, the electric blower 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention relates to the electric blower 100 having the fan module according to an embodiment of the present invention, so the same content will be briefly described and differences will be described in detail.

Hereinafter, the electric blower 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 110 is formed to have a cylindrical shape with one side thereof opened, and an accommodation portion 111 is formed within the housing 110. A discharge opening 112 is formed in the other side of the housing 110 to discharge air introduced into the housing 110.

The motor 120 is accommodated in the housing 110, and a rotational shaft 121 is formed in one side so as to be positioned in the opened one side of the housing 110.

The impeller 130 is accommodated within the impeller cover 150. Also, the impeller 130 is coupled to the rotational shaft 121 of the motor 120 accommodated in the housing 110 so as to be rotated by the motor 120.

Here, referring to FIG. 5, the impeller 130 includes a plurality of impeller blades 131 formed on an outer surface thereof. Here, the impeller blades 131 may be formed in a spiral form toward one side, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Also, the impeller 130 may be configured as a 3D impeller having a width narrowed toward one side thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the diffuser 140 is disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller 130 and guide air discharged from the impeller 130 to a flow path. Here, the diffuser 140 may be accommodated within the impeller cover 150 to guide air to the accommodation portion 111 of the housing 110.

The impeller cover 150 includes the intake member 153 to cover one side of the housing 110. Here, when the impeller 130 accommodated within the impeller cover 150 is rotated, air is introduced through the intake member 153.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the leakage reduction member 160 may be positioned at an inner side of the impeller cover 150 to reduce flow leakage loss generated due to a gap between the impeller cover 150 and the impeller 130.

Also, the leakage reduction member 160 is made of a material having strength lower than that of the impeller 130. For example, the leakage reduction member 160 may be made of one or more of plaster, carbon powder, and plastic. Here, the leakage reduction member 160 may be installed to be in contact with the impeller 130 and only a portion of the leakage reduction member 160 which comes into contact with the blade of the impeller 131 when the impeller 130 is rotated may be removed. Accordingly, a flow leakage loss generated due to a gap between the impeller cover 150 and the impeller 130 can be significantly reduced.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the impeller cover 150 includes an installation recess 151 in which the leakage reduction member 160 is installed. The leakage reduction member 160 may be insertedly installed in the installation recess 151. Here, the installation recess 151 and the leakage reduction member 160 may be formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.

Also, the impeller cover 150 may have a coupling hole 152 formed in an inner surface of the installation recess 151 and penetrating through the impeller cover 150, and the leakage reduction member 160 may have coupling projections 161 and 162 coupled to the coupling hole 152.

Here, the coupling projections 161 and 162 are provided as a pair and formed to be spaced apart from each other. In this case, the pair of coupling projections 161 and 162 may be formed to become distant from each other toward an end portion thereof.

In addition, the pair of coupling projections 161 and 162 have protrusions 161 a and 162 a protruded in a direction in which they become distant from each other, respectively.

According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, flow leakage loss generated between the impeller and the cover is reduced, increasing efficiency, and since a turbulence flow is reduced, noise can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements should be considered to be within the scope of the invention, and the detailed scope of the invention will be disclosed by the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan module comprising: an impeller cover having an intake member formed therein and covering one side of a housing; an impeller accommodated within the impeller cover and rotatably coupled to a rotational shaft of a motor accommodated in the housing; and a leakage reduction member positioned in an inner surface of the impeller cover to reduce a flow leakage between the impeller cover and the impeller.
 2. The fan module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leakage reduction member is made of a material having strength lower than that of the impeller.
 3. The fan module as set forth in claim 2, wherein the leakage reduction member is made of one or more of plaster, carbon powder, and plastic.
 4. The fan module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the impeller cover has an installation recess allowing the leakage reduction member to be installed therein, and the leakage reduction member is installed in the installation recess.
 5. The fan module as set forth in claim 4, wherein the installation recess and the leakage reduction member are formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.
 6. The fan module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the impeller cover has a coupling hole formed in an inner surface of the installation recess, and the leakage reduction member has a coupling projection coupled to the coupling hole.
 7. The fan module as set forth in claim 6, wherein the coupling projection is provided as a pair, and the pair of coupling projections are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.
 8. The fan module as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pair of coupling projections are formed to become distant from each other toward an end portion thereof.
 9. The fan module as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pair of coupling projections have protrusions formed in end portions thereof, respectively, and protruded in a direction in which they become distant from each other.
 10. The fan module as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a diffuser disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller to guide air discharged from the impeller to a flow path.
 11. An electric blower comprising: a housing having one side opened and having an accommodation portion formed therein; a motor accommodated in the housing; an impeller rotated by the motor; a diffuser disposed in an outer circumference of the impeller to guide air discharged from the impeller to a flow path; an impeller cover accommodating the impeller therein, having an intake member, and covering one side of the housing; and a leakage reduction member positioned in an inner surface of the impeller cover to reduce flow leakage between the impeller cover and the impeller.
 12. The electric blower as set forth in claim 11, wherein the leakage reduction member is made of a material having strength lower than that of the impeller.
 13. The electric blower as set forth in claim 12, wherein the leakage reduction member is made of one or more of plaster, carbon powder, and plastic.
 14. The electric blower as set forth in claim 11, wherein the impeller cover has an installation recess allowing the leakage reduction member to be installed therein, and the leakage reduction member is insertedly installed in the installation recess.
 15. The electric blower as set forth in claim 14, wherein the installation recess and the leakage reduction member are formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.
 16. The electric blower as set forth in claim 11, wherein the impeller cover has a coupling hole formed in an inner surface of the installation recess, and the leakage reduction member has a coupling projection coupled to the coupling hole.
 17. The electric blower as set forth in claim 16, wherein the coupling projection is provided as a pair, and the pair of coupling projections are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.
 18. The electric blower as set forth in claim 17, wherein the pair of coupling projections are formed to become distant from each other toward an end portion thereof.
 19. The electric blower as set forth in claim 18, wherein the pair of coupling projections have protrusions formed in end portions thereof, respectively, and protruded in a direction in which they become distant from each other. 